Srinagar, Feb 21: Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the ruling National Conference (NC), accusing it of misleading the public on constitutional issues and failing the youth on employment.
Addressing the BJP’s Mega Joining Programme at SKICC, Sharma said Article 370 “is history” and questioned the NC’s repeated promises to restore it. He claimed the party sought votes in the 2024 Assembly elections in the name of restoring Article 370 but later admitted that such support could not be expected from the BJP at the Centre.
“The people must ask what exactly is being promised under the term special status. Constitutional positions cannot be altered through political slogans,” Sharma said, reiterating that there is no possibility of restoring Article 370.
Sharma also accused the NC of contradictory politics, alleging that while it criticises the BJP publicly, it has aligned with it politically in the past.
He raised concerns over employment, alleging that the government had outsourced around 24,000 jobs instead of filling them through transparent recruitment.
“The posts were handed over to a private company without open advertisements, written examinations or interviews, depriving deserving youth,” he alleged, adding that poor families educate their children with the hope of securing government employment.
He demanded the government disclose details of the company and the recruitment mechanism and warned that his party would launch protests if the decision was not reversed.
The Opposition leader also criticised the government over its promise of providing 200 units of free electricity, alleging that the administration was attempting to link the benefit to central schemes rather than its own commitment.
He said legislative proceedings are now closely watched by the public due to digital access to Assembly debates and asserted that the BJP would continue to question the government both inside and outside the House.
Sharma urged party workers to take governance and constitutional issues to the grassroots level, stating that transparency and accountability would remain key issues for the BJP.
